Vacuum cleaner assembly



1957 c. E. MEYERHOEFER 2,778,447

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VACUUM CLEANER ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 14, 1955 5 Shets-Sheet 5 WHUIU UnitedStates Patent VACUUM CLEANER ASSEMBLY Carl E. Meyerhoefer, Brooklyn, N.Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Lewyt Corporation, Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application October 14, 1953, Serial No.386,077

4 Claims. (Cl. 183-37) This invention relates to a structurally andfunctionally improved vacuum cleaner assembly especially of the typeused by housenolders; the present invention embracing an improved and/oralternative structure to that disclosed in my prior applications forUnited States Letters Patent on Vacuum Cleaners. Ser. Nos. 353.472 filedMay 7, 1953 and 371.003 filed July 29, 1953.

it is a primary object of the invention to furnish an improved assemblywhich may readily be moved over the tloor without becoming entangledwith the powersupolying lead or cord; the apparatus being inherentlystable a... --at th: will of the operator-permitting of read shiftingand conversion from its usual suction and cleaning functions, it thoseunder which it will supply air under pressure for blowing, spraying andother purposes.

Another object is that of furnishing a vacuum cleaner \il'UCIUl'G whichwill be quite compact and in which the passages for the air flow will bearranged in a manner such that a minimum impediment or obstruction tothat flow will occur. Moreover, the assembly embraces an improvedarrangement such that with minimum effort an operator may readily renewthe dust-containing receptacle and filter structure when necessary.

Still another object is that of embodying in a vacuum cleaner structurea layout of parts such that the motorblower unit will be supportedagainst damaging shocks and will. in turn, not transmit vibration to theassembly or generate perceptible noise beyond a minimum level undernormal operation of the cleaner.

An additional object is that of providing a mechanism which w ll includerelatively few parts, each individually simple and rugged inconstruction and capable of ready assembla e to furnish a unitaryapparatus operating over long periods of time with freedom from alldifiiculties.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attachedsheets of drawings illustrating a practical embodiment of the inventionand in which:

Fig. l is a front view of the apparatus with certain of the partsbrokenaway to show underlying structures;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of that apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view;

Fig. 5 shows the disposition of the parts when the assembly isused as ablowing mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a sectional side view in somewhat enlarged scale of the entireapparatus Figs. 7 and 8 are transverse sectional views taken along thelines 77 and 88 respectively in the direction of the arrows as indicatedin Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a sectional fragmentary view taken along th line 99 and in thedirection of the arrow as also indicated in Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional side view of a detail of theassembly; and

Fig. 11 is a similar view of another part of the ape paratus.

With primary reference to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the casingof the apparatus includes a lower "ice portion 15 and an upper portion16. The latter is closed by a lid 17 hingedly suported at 18 and withthe opposite side of which a catch mechanism is associated to terminatein an actuator 19 exteriorly of the casing. The lid or coverconveniently supports a handle in the form of an undercut or recessedprotuberance 20. A dial unit 21 may also be associated with the coverand shiftable to provide an air by-passing structure of greater orlesser value.

The lower portion of the casing as designated at 15 embraces a crosssectional area of lesser extent than the upper portion 16 thereof.Outwardly bulged surfaces 22 generally define the line of demarcationbetween these sections. Both sections are preferably of somewhatrectangular outline although, especially in the case of the uppersection 16, the configuration may be modified. any event, it isdefinitely preferred, in accordance with the present teachings, thatflattened side faces 23 extend below the inwardly projecting wallportions 22. The depth of these bulged portions should be such that theywill provide recesses for the accommodation of wheels 24 by means ofwhich the entire apparatus is supported for traversal over the floor.These wheels are mounted upon stub shafts 25 which project from faces 23at points aligned with each other and to the rear of the vertical axisof the apparatus. As shown these wheels may be provided with rubber tireportions and are retained in association with the shafts by detachableclip structures 26. These will serve to prevent an accidental removal ofthe wheels from the assembly. Also, they will allow the wheels toreadily turn. At the same time. when necessary, the clips 26 may bewithdrawn from the grooves of shafts 25 to allow of the removal of thewheels. The wheel axis being toward the rear of the apparatus, a skid inthe form of an outwardly bulged portion 27 is provided at a pointpreferably centrally of the bottom section 15 of the casing and adjacentthe forward edge of that section. Therefore, it follows that theapparatus as shown especially in Figs. 1 and 2 will have a stablethree-point support.

A switch actuator-in the form of a foot pedal 28 extends preferably inline with and forwardly of skid 27. The switch thus controlled serves togovern the energization and de-energization of the motor which drivesthe blower unit of the apparatus. The forward face of casing section 16is provided with an opening defined by a coupling collar 29. This is thenormally used opening to which there is connected a hose 30 for thepurpose of providing an operative assembly. A preferred form of thiscoupling is disclosed in my prior application for United States LettersPatent, Ser. No. 351,072 filed in Washington on April 27, 1953. It is,of course, obvious that an alterna tive and substitute structure mightbe employed. In any event, dust-laden air will normally pass through thehose 30 and the coupling to the upper casing section 16. It will flowthrough the apparatus in a manner hereinafter brought out and duringsuch flow will have the dust and other foreign material separated fromit. It will be discharged from the apparatus herein illustrated throughports 31. These preferably form a part of the lower casing section 15and are provided in the front and rear faces of that section. Soprovided, they will encompass an aggregate area of around one-third oreven less of the perimeter of section 15.

Attention is next invited to Fig. 6 in which it will be seen that aseparate facing plate 32 is preferably provided to furnish the couplingcollar 29 as well as to mount the latch actuator 19. This plate issecured to the outer face of easing section 16 at the desired positionin any manner such as, by example, screws or bolts. A similar andcomplimentary facing plate 33 is connected to the cover 17. A tubeportion 34 is disposed in line with collar 29. This portion extendsthrough the front wall of a trough or bag receptacle 36 and terminatescon veniently in a deflector 35. As shown particularly in Fig. 7, thebase and side walls of the trough are ribbed or corrugated as at 37. Thecentral portion of this base is dished inwardly or upwardly so that theforward and rear portions of the trough extend downwardly as indicatedat 38. A filter preferably in the form of an airporous paper bag 39 isdisposable in the trough. This bag has its intake opening defined by acollar 40 which encircles and frictionally engages with the outersurface of the tube portion 34. The width of the bag is greater than thedistance between the central portion of the trough and its upper edge.The length of the bag should be such that with its collar supported bytube 34, its base will firmly bear against the rear wall of the troughwith the bag distended.

Both the upper edges of the trough and section 16 of the casing mountgaskets 41. These gaskets are spaced inwardly of each other toward theaxis of the apparatus.

The outermost gasket is engaged by the edge of cover 17 when the latteris secured. This cover mounts a filter assembly which in itself would bequite eifective, even when used independently of a unit such as bag 39.Preferably the assembly will include an upper perforated metal plate 42and a lower layer 43 of air-pervious material such as suitable cloth;this layer being in face-to-face contact with plate 42 and the assemblybeing defined by a gasket 43'. The latter bears in substantiallyair-tight relationship with the inner face of cover 17 and also supportsthe assembly. The latter is capable of deliberate detachment from thecover by exerting a pull such that the engagement between the same andbeaded edge portion of the cover is overcome. As will be apparent, theinwardly extending portion of cover 17 underlying handle acts as asupport to prevent an undesired deflection of the filter groupingembracing plate 42 and layer 43 under conditions of air flow orotherwise. As also shown in Fig. 6, dial 21 is supported for rotation bya shaft 44 supported on the base of a well portion in the cover 17. Thisshaft mounts for movement with the dial 21, a valve 45; the latterobstructing, partially covering. or clearing an opening 46 in the baseof this well. The last-described structure constitutes a suitable airbypass as more particularly disclosed in my prior application, SerialNo. 353,472.

The area of trough 36 is less than section 16 of that casing withinwhich it is disposed. Also it is attached against movement with respectto the casing. As especially shown in Fig. 6, adjacent portions of thecasing and trough side walls may be provided with spaced groups ofopposed pedestal portions 47 which are secured against movement by meansof fastening units passing through their base portions. Similar spacedpedestal portions and securing elements are provided (Fig. 7) betweenthe base of the trough and the inwardly extending flange portion ofouter casing section 16 which has its edge preferably terminating in theform of a flange 48. At points beyond the latter pedestal portions, thelower section 15 may be flanged outwardly as at 49 and mount fasteningelements which secure this section against movement with respect tosection 16. Inwardly of the base pedestal portions 47, a channel 50forms a part of the lower surface of section 16. The upper channeledflange 51 of a tub or casing member 52 is secured in any suitable mannerto provide an air-tight seal in contact with the base of channel 50. Aswill be apparent with especial reference to Fig. 8, the frame defined bythe channel members 48 and 51 is substantially rectangular. The same istrue of tub 52. Disposed within the latter is the motor-blower unit 53.The configuration of the latter is circular.

In order to couple these parts to each other, an outwardly extendingplate or flange 54 is secured to or may form an integral part of thecasing defining the blower.

The edge of this plate, as shown in detail in Fig. 10, is preferablyextended outwardly and downwardly as at 55. This portion of the platecorresponds in outline to the framing defined by channel elements 50 and51. It extends into the inwardly facing groove of a gasket 56. Thelatter is formed of natural or synthetic rubber or similar yieldingmaterial. Its normal cross-sectional dimensions are such that it isaccommodated between the channel elements 50 and 51 in an uncompressedcondition. When the motor-blower unit 53 is not operating the outwardlyextending flange portion 55 occupies a position such as has beenindicated in dash lines in Fig. 10. With the intake of the motor-blowerunit extending upwardly and that unit operating, there will be atendency of the unit to rise to a slight degree. Therefore, underoperating conditions, the parts will assume the positions shown in fulllines in Fig. 10 so that the compression on the lower portion of gasket56 will be relieved and the motor-blower unit will, in effect, hefloatingly supported by that gasket. At the same time it will beunderstood that the starting torque of the unit will not result in thelatter, through a series of starts, rotating around the axis of theassembly. In this connection, it will be appreciated that the unit has arelatively high starting torque so that each time operation isinitiated, there is a definite tendency on the part of the unit to turnthrough several degrees. Such a condition would involve substantialcomplication because the power-supplying lead 57, which is in circuitwith the switch 58 and the motor of the unit, would tend to beincreasingly disposed within or drawn into the casing. Such ditlicultiesare precluded in the present structure because, while the unit iscircular in outline and would hence tend to rotate due to the characterof the connection between its body and the gasket 56, the latter and theplate 54 are not circular in outline. Accordingly, when motor operationis initiated, an axial turning of the unit through several degrees mayoccur but this will result in a torsional strain being imparted to thematerial of gasket 56. Immediately after the unit has reached properoperating speed, this strain will be relieved by the parts returning totheir initial positions. With the gasket and the structure associatedtherewith providing the desired mounting for the unit, an escape of airbetween the upper portion of that unit and past the gasket will beprevented in that the surfaces under all operating conditions establishproper airtight relationship. While still considering this portion ofthe apparatus, it will be noted that the upper or intake end of the unitextends into the dished-in central portion of the trough base and isspaced therefrom with its side faces also being spaced from the adjacentoutwardly extending portions 38 of the trough which overlap it. Belowthe motor unit a filtering or entrapping structure is furnished byproviding a body 59 of material such as fiberglass. The latter does notserve to support the unit; this function being achieved by theaforedescribed gasket assembly.

As shown especially in Fig. 11, the base of tub 52 is preferablyprovided with a recessed portion within which there is defined anopening 60. In line with this opening and to one side of the skid 27,the base of section 15 is provided with a similar opening. This isdefined by a collar 61 corresponding to collar 29 and with which theinner end of the coupling member carried by the hose assembly isconnected. Normally the bore of collar 61 is closed by a preferablyrubber cap 62 with which a flexible strap 63 is coupled. This strap hasits outer end connected by a suitable fitting 64 with the wall of casingsection 15. Therefore, the cap will never be wholly detached from thecasing while at the same time it may readily be shifted to permit of acoupling of the hose with the interior of tub 52 as indicated in dot anddash lines in this figure. With the end of the hose not normally beingin this position and cap 62 sealing collar 61. air will freely flow fromthe motor-blower unit through opening 60 and along the adjacent surfacesof casing section 15. Such flow will occur upwardly toward the ports 31.A final filter in the form of a ring 65 being disposed between the tuband easing at a point short of these ports, it follows that the air willpass through this unit (offiberglass or other suitable material) beforeit escapes from the ports. The latter may be defined by inwardly struckportions 66.

The assembly of. the switch 58 is such that when its operating elementis initially actuated, the circuit through the switch is closed. Asubsequent actuation results in the parts shifting so that the switch isopen. The next operation again closes the switch, etc. According to thepresent teachings, this switch is preferably mounted upon a bracket 67secured to the forward face of tub 52. Actuator 28 is provided with arear or inwardly extending arm 68 lying adjacent the operating portionot the switch. A plate 69 is secured to the outer face of easing portionI and has a slot through which actuator 28 extends. In line with thisplate the casing is dished inwardly to furnish a recess within which atrunion portion forming a part of the actuator 28 extends. Accordinglythe latter is mounted for rocking movement as especially shown in Figs.6 and 9. A spring 71 of the contraction type is connected between theend of arm 68 and an inwardly extending portion of plate '69. Thusactuator 28 is normally supported in the position illustrated. It may,however, be swung to cause an operation of the mechanism of switch 28and spring 71 will return the parts to normat positions.

Finally, as will be observed in Figs. 2 and 5, the center of gravity ofthe entire assembly in its two extreme pcsitinns has been indicated bythe numeral 71. With the apparatus in its normal or ttpright positionand as shown in Fig. 2. this center of gravity will lie somewhat aboveand slightly forward of the wheel axles 25. Therefore the three-pointsupport upon the floor as afore noted will be maintained. When theassembly is rotated in a clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 2 andassumes the position shown in Fig. 5, it will still have a stablethreepoint support upon the fioor. The wheels will provide two of thesepoints of support and the third point in the latter figure mayconveniently include the housing defining the hinge area 18. In anyevent, with the parts in the Fig. 5 position, the'center of gravity willstill be maintained above the axis of the wheels but will have shiftedto the rear of a line extending perpendicular with respect to the tioorand through such axis.

Assuming a to be properly positioned within the trough as shown in Fig.6, with the lid closed and the apparatus in its normal or ttprightposition, the line of thrust will be directly below the center ofgravity 71; such line having been indicated at A in Fig. 2. With thehose 30 connected to collar 29 and an operator exerting a pull upon thishose, a traction or pulling force will be exerted in the direction ofline B as indicated in Fig. 2. The components of the latter line andline A has been indicated at C in this same figure. Therefore anoperator, grasping the hose and moving in a forward direction, willcause the entire assembly to shift over the supporting floor in a pathwhich tends to directly follow that traversed by the operator.

Now with the motor-blower unit 53 energized by closing the mechanism ofswitch 58. it follows that dust-laden air will enter through the hoseand tube 34 and flow into the interior of bag 39. If the operator hasnot already properly expanded this unit. the inflowing air will causesuch expansion so that it will assume the position shown in Fig. 6. Theair will escape through the wall of the bag and in such escape will havedust particles and other foreign material filtered from it to thegreatest extent. Incident to the corrugations or ribs 37 the side andbottom as well as the top faces of the bag will act as a filter in thatair may escape through them. In any event, the trough 36 presenting abase and sidewalls, it follows I a further filtering action.

that the filtered air will now be confined by the innermost gasket 41 toa path such that it must flow through the filter assembly comprisingcloth 43 and plate 42. Thus, it is subjected to to a further filteringaction and passes into the space intervening plate 42 and the inner faceof lid or cover 17.

Within that cover zone, it will reverse its flow. Also", according tothe setting of the dial or actuator 21, a greater or lesser amount ofair may directly enter this space. The greater amount of the air passingthrough opening 46. the less will be the amount of air entering throughcollar 29. With valve 45 sealing opening 46, all air will enter throughthat collar. The air within the zone of cover 17 will now flowdownwardly towards the spaces intervening the upper section 16 of thecasing and the trough 36. In reaching these passages, the air will againpass through the filter assembly constituted by plate 42 and layer 43.Therefore, it will be subjected to As will be apparent with thedust-separating action which does occur as a consequence of thisassembly, the bag 39 might, in certain instances, be dispensed with andthe filter assembly 42-43 might perform the entire filtering action. Inthat event, the structure of the trough might be modified and thestructure of the assetnbly also redesigned. According to the preferredaspect of the invention, however, both the bag as well as the assemblyshould be used and the air should flow in series through these units.

In any event as shown to best advantage in Figs. 6 and 7, the air willnow pass around the sides of the trough 36 as well as around thedownwardly extended end portions 38 of the same and will move into thespace defined between the base of the trough and the intake end of themotor-blower unit 53. In escaping from or being discharged by thelatter, the air will flow toward the mass of material 59. Any particlesof foreign material still entrained within the air will move intocontact with body 59 and adhere to or become embedded within the same.Thus a particle-retaining structure is presented at this point and thetub 52 will constitute a plenum chamber to confine the flow of air sothat it must pass through opening 60 in line with cap 62. Cover 17,cloth 43 and plate 42 extending over the marginal space between trough36 and casing 16 provide for the aforementioned air flow.

With cap 62 being in position, the air will flow into the spaceintervening casing section 15 and tub 52. It will move upwardly throughthe ring or mass of material 65. Therefore again at this point it willbe subjected to a filtering action. Additionally, this material will actto suppress the noise occurring incident to the flow of air toward andthrough the opening 60 and toward and through the ports 31. These portsbeing located in the forward and rear faces of the assembly, the airescaping from them will generate far less sound than would be the caseif the air discharged, for example, against surfaces such as the innerfaces of the wheels 24. Therefore, objections in connection with thenoise incident to air flow and escape will be substantially completelyovercome.

At the same time, noise incident to the vibration transmitted to theapparatus from the motor blower unit will also, in effect, be nullified.This will be because of the free-floating support furnished by gasket 51and its associated structure. As afore brought out, each time themotor-blower ttnit is started, this part of the apparatus allows of thatunit moving around the axis of the apparatus for a few degrees to thusminimize the shock of starting. However, due to the fact that anon-circular configuration is provided as part of the flange or plate 54extending from the unit, the latter will always return to its initialposition and will not rotate through an increasing path as a number ofstarting and stopping operations occur. With this in mind, thecontinuation of lead 7 57 extending to switch 58 and the motor-blowerunit may be of minimum length such that it will not strike againstadjacent surfaces as the apparatus is moved and thus cause unnecessarynoise.

The actuator 28 may be readily operated in all posi tions which theapparatus assumes. Under normal con ditions. as illustrated in Figs. 1and 2, the operators foot may cause a ready control of the circuit. Asafore brought out, the assembly will follow the operator as the latterpullswithout conscious efiortupon the end of hose 30 incident tocleaning the floor, walls or other sun faces. With the mechanismdisposed substantially centrally within a room and the operator movingaround that room, the cleaner will simply rotate substantially around avertical axis. The wheels 24 under these circumstances will freely passover any portions of the lead 57 which may rest upon the floor and willnot become entangled with this part or similar obstructions on thefloor. Therefore, it will be unnecessary to employ a socalled swivel-topstructure with its inherent loss of efliciency due to unavoidable airleakages at the rotatable joint. which in other cleaners enables theoperator to circle around the room without difiiculties beingencountered.

Also. the operator may lift the outer end of the hose to a relativelyelevated position such as might be necessary in cleaning adjacent theceiling of a room without there being any danger of the apparatusbecoming over-balanced. However. if a deliberate lift is exerted on thatportion of the hose which is adjacent collar 29, or if the apparatus isotherwise forced in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 2 and 6.then the entire assembly will rotate around the wheel axles 25 to cometo rest in the position shown in Fig. 5. This will readily be possiblebecause the rear face of easing section 15 is, according to the presentinvention, curved to extend along a radius less than that of wheels 24which accordingly have their peripheries extending beyond that casingface. Therefore, the tilting action occurs without the outer face of thecasing obstructing this function.

When the apparatus is disposed as in Fig. 5, a threepoint support isagain furnished. Actuator 28 is readily accessible for the purpose ofcontrolling switch 58. The hose fitting may be readily detached fromcollar 29 and cover 62 may be swung to its inoperative position.Thereupon the hose fitting is introduced through collar 61 to extend insealing engagement with the edges defining opening 60 of tub 52. Thishas been shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1]. Under these circumstances,all air will be discharged under pressure directly from the tub andthrough the hose. The operator may manipulate the latter as necessaryfor blowing or spraying purposes without fear that the apparatus willbecome over-balanced. This is because a completely stable supportingstructure is furnished having in mind the contact of the two wheels 24with the floor, the location of the center of gravity 7]. between thesewheels and the third point of support such as hinge portion 18 or anysuitable equivalent surface.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention as specificallyaforenoted are achieved. Obviously numerous changes in construction andre-arrangements of the parts might be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit of the invention as defined by the claims:

I claim:

1. A vacuum cleaner assembly including in combination a casing formedwith an inlet opening adjacent its upper end. means mounted adjacentsaid opening to pro vide a detachable coupling for the end of a hose,wheels connected with the casing and extending adjacent and below thelatter to support the same at two spaced points, a further supportextending from said casing between said wheels and substantially in linewith said inlet opening, a motor-blower unit within said casing adjacentits lower end, a filter between said unit and inlet opening, the centorof gravity of said assembly being disposed above the axis of saidwheels, a cover hingedly connected with said casing at a point adjacentthe upper end of the latter, said casing being rotatable around thewheel axis to bear against a supporting surface at a point adjacent thatat which said cover is hingedly connected, said casing being formed withan opening in its lower-face, a cap closing such opening and meansdisposed adjacent said opening and providing a coupling for a hoseconnectible therewith.

2. A vacuum cleaner assembly including in combination a casingpresenting a base and side walls, said casing be ing formed with aninlet opening in its side wall adjacent its upper end, a motor-blowerunit mounted by said casing adjacent its lower end and below said inletopening, a filter mounting disposed between said opening and unit,wheels extending beyond the outer face of said side walls to each sideof said casing, a support extending from the base of said casing betweensaid wheels and substantially in line with said opening, the center ofgravity of said assembly being disposed above the axis of said wheelsand toward said opening whereby a pull on said casing in the zone ofsaid opening will cause said assembly to traverse a supporting surfacewith two points of mounting provided by the wheel peripheries and withthe support extending from said base firmly and slidably engaging thatsurface and said casing at a point between said wheels and opposite saidopening being rounded along a radius of lesser value than that definedby the peripheries of said wheels whereby said casing may be rotated ina rearward direction around the wheel axis and supported by the twoperipheral wheel portions to cause said support to rock out of contactwith the supporting surface and cause the axis of said assembly toassume a position substantially parallel to said supporting surface anda part, adjacent the upper end of said casing side wall, engaging suchsupporting surface and furnishingunder such latter conditionsa thirdpoint of support for said casing.

3. A vacuum cleaner assembly including in combination a casingpresenting connected upper and lower portions defined by side walls, andan imperforate trough mounted within said upper portion to extendhorizontally across the same, said trough and the side walls of saidupper casing portion being formed with aligned and connecting inletopenings, the outer face of said trough being spaced from the inner faceof said upper casing portion to provide spaces for the passage ofair-after it has flowed upwardly and over the upper edges of thetroughin a downward direction, a motor-blower unit mounted within thelower casing portion to receive air moving through said spaces, saidunit having its axis extending in a vertical direction, said lowercasing portion having a width less than said upper casing portion andincluding substantially fiat side faces recessed with respect to saidlatter portion, wheels rotatably mounted adjacent said flat faces withina space below and encompassed by the area of said upper casing portionand said wheels having a diameter such that they extend from a pointbelow said lower casing portion to a point substantially midway of theheighth of said casing.

4. A vacuum cleaner assembly including in combination a casingpresenting connected upper and lower portions defined by side Walls, andan imperforate trough mounted within said upper portion to extendhorizontally across the same, said trough and the side walls of saidupper casing portion being formed with aligned and connecting inletopenings, the outer face of said trough being spaced from the inner faceof said upper casing portion to provide spaces for the passage ofair-after it has flowed upwardly and over the upper edges of the troughin a downward direction, a motor-blower unit mounted within the lowercasing portion to receive air moving through said spaces, said unithaving its axis extending in a vertical direction, said lower casingportion having a width less than said upper casing portion and includingsubstantially fiat side faces recessed with respect to said latterportion, wheels rotatably mounted adjacent said llat faces within aspace below and encompassed by the area of said upper casing portion,and said lower casing portion being formed with outlet openingsextending.

through its side walls at points intermediate its flat side faceswhereby air discharged through said outlet openings will not be directedagainst said Wheels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS993,985 Harker May 30, 9111 10 Moss Sept. 19, 1916 Spencer Dec. 6, 1921Forsberg Apr. 3, 1945 Lofgren Sept. 19, 1950 Limberg Jan. 23, 1951 LangAug. 5, 1952 Beck Nov. 4, 1952 Senne Dec. 16, 1952 Hage Mar. 23, 1954FOREIGN PATENTS Austria Sept. 10, 1927

